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History
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The Shire went from the battlefield to the farm. The foundation for the Shire breed can be traced back to the 13th century, when very solid, large stallions from Holland were brought to England to breed with smaller, locally bred mares. The result was a sturdy, strong horse more than capable of carrying an armor-laden rider into battle. These horses were primarily used in battle until swords were replaced by guns in the 15th century. As swifter horse breeds became more favorable wartime mounts, the Shire horses transitioned to farms. In the mid-1800s Shires were imported to the United States.
Conformation
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Shires have extremely powerful hind ends. The American Shire Horse Association established a standard outlining the desired conformation of this equine breed. Conformation is another word for a horse's physical characteristics. Black, brown, bay, grey or chestnut are the preferred colors for a Shire. The minimum height is 16.2 hands (a "hand" is the equivalent of 4 inches), but the average Shire stands a 17.1 hands. Their heads are long and lean while their necks should be in proportion to their bodies. Thick jaws are considered undesirable, as are excessive white markings on the body. Their backs are ideally short and strong rather than dipped or swayed. Side bodies should be deep and well rounded, not flat or "slab sided". Shires have long hair around their pasterns that come down over their hooves. Known as "feathers," this hair should be straight and silky.
Temperment
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Although their size can be overwhelming, Shires are extremely calm, trainable and easygoing. They are not "hot" or spooky horses. They are very gentle and, once trained for a specific job, want to please. Unlike their warmblood and hotblood counterparts (for example, Trakehners and Thoroughbreds, respectively), Shires are not easily agitated.
Suitability
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Although the breed originally accommodated heavy riders, today's Shire is rarely mounted. Rather, they are most often used for agricultural purposes, transporting loads or pulling wagons and plows. They are extremely powerful animals
Care
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Shires have "feathers" covering their hooves. Because of their massive size, Shires require a large amount of feed compared to smaller breeds. They should have access to fresh hay and water and room to roam. If a Shire must be stalled, the stall should be substantially bigger than those in a stable for average-sized horses. Attention should be paid to their feathers to prevent pododermititis, otherwise known as "scratches", which is a bacterial infection near a horse's ankle.
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Shire Horse Information
Shire is a horse breed that is easily distinguished from other breeds. While the tremendous size of the Shire horse can be intimidating, it is considered one of the most docile equine breeds. Part of the Draft horse family, Shires are considered "cold blooded" horses, referring to their steady, mellow nature.